Want to feel like a Bond villain in your own private beach villa, on a private island in the Seychelles – complete with its own private airstrip – using Hilton Honors points? Check this out.
We just discovered excellent availability to book the brand-new Waldorf Astoria Seychelles Platte Island this April, May, and July using Hilton points – or free Hilton free night certificates. This standard award space is bookable for 130,000 Hilton Honors points per night, as good as it gets for a top-of-the-line property like this. And considering these rooms are currently selling for more than $2,000 a night, it's an absolutely fantastic way to burn your Hilton Honors points.
Finding any availability to book free nights on points has been practically impossible since this property off the coast of Africa first hit the map. But that's just what we found: From early April through May and again in early July, you can book five award nights or more at the Waldorf Astoria Seychelles Platte Island. There's a two-night minimum stay to use points here … but given the 30-plus hours of flights to get here, you'll want to stay even longer.
So long as you've got Hilton status – and that's automatic with any Hilton co-branded credit card or even *amex platinum* – you get your fifth night free when using points. That means you could book a five-night stay this spring or summer for 520,000 Hilton points. Tack on a free night certificate from a card like the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, and you've got yourself nearly a week in remote paradise for next to nothing.
Don't have all the Hilton points you need to book? Consider topping off your account by transferring American Express points on a 2:1 basis – 65,000 Amex points gets you 130,000 Hilton Honors points.
Whether you use points or a certificate, you'll book into a King Deluxe Room, a private villa complete with an outdoor shower and terrace. But at a brand-new property this remote, keep your fingers crossed for a complimentary status upgrade to a larger villa with a private pool!
Thrifty Tip: Got *amex platinum*? That comes with complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status, which unlocks a fifth night free on award stays plus a daily food and beverage credit for two guests. Or improve your odds at an upgrade with the top-tier Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card and its automatic Diamond status.
We haven't stayed here ourselves – heck, it just opened a week ago, so almost no one has. But how can you go wrong with a brand-new luxury Waldorf Astoria on a private island in the crystal-blue waters of the Indian Ocean? Answer: You can't.
The place just seems over-the-top in the best way possible. There's a multi-tiered infinity pool, six (yes, six) bars and restaurants onsite, a spa and tennis court, and tons of land to explore and coral to snorkel through. Oh yeah, and a private airstrip that bisects the island.
Oh, about that airstrip. Much like the Maldives, you'll be on the hook for a private plane transfer to get from the main Seychelles airport (SEZ) to Platte island … and it's not exactly cheap.
The Waldorf Astoria charges 700 euro (about $754 USD) roundtrip for guests 12 and up and 350 euro (about $377 USD) for children under 12. Infants under 2 years old can make the trip for free. But that's on par with what you'll pay for plane transfers in the Maldives.
Thrifty Tip: Cover your plane transfer fees using Capital One Venture Miles!
But consider yourself warned: You'll want to book ASAP. There's just one room available at these standard, 130,000-point-per-night rates. Once it's booked, your dates will likely disappear.
How to Book the Waldorf Astoria Seychelles Platte Island
- There's currently standard room award availability at the new Waldorf Astoria Seychelles Platte Island on most dates from early April through May 2024 and again in early July, as of publication.
- This makes it possible to book free nights for 130,000 Hilton Honors points or apply free night certificates earned from certain Hilton credit cards.
- You'll need to search for at least a two-night stay
- If you have Hilton Honors Silver status or higher, you can book five consecutive nights and only pay for four – a 20% savings per night.
Current Waldorf Astoria Seychelles Platte Island Availability
As of publication, you can book standard room award availability for 130,000 points per night at this brand-new Seychelles property from early April through May and again for a week or more in early July. Otherwise, you'll see much higher rates (like closer to 1 million points a night!) … or nothing at all.
Scan through the calendar (make sure you select “my dates are flexible” when entering your dates at Hilton.com) and you'll see the available dates. Again, remember you'll need to search for at least a two-night stay.
Here are the dates with standard room award availability for 130,000 Hilton points per night as of publication.
How to Search for Availability with the Calendar View
To find dates with standard room award availability at 130,000 points per night, the easiest way is to search with the calendar view. But that's easier said than done, as Hilton doesn't make searching for award nights very intuitive. Here's how.
Head to Hilton.com and search for the Waldorf Astoria Seychelles Platte Island. Click “Special Rates” and be sure to select “Use Points,” otherwise you'll only see the (exorbitant) cash rates. Here's the important part: Under dates, search for at least a two-night stay and select “My Dates are Flexible.”
Once you've done that, you'll see a calendar view with all the bookable dates. You can jump from month to month and see which dates will work at these standard award rates.
Bottom Line
A brand-new luxury resort with private villas, on a private island in the Seychelles … bookable with Hilton points? Yes, please!
Under a week since it opened, we just found excellent (and extremely rare) standard award availability to book the Waldorf Astoria Seychelles Platte Island for 130,000 points per night from early April through May and again in early July. While that's certainly not cheap, it's as good as it gets for one of Hilton's latest and greatest luxury properties. And considering these same nights are selling for north of $2,000 a night, it's a phenomenal way to redeem those points.
All photos courtesy of Hilton Hotels